A BUSINESSMAN has told the Chronicle he has lodged a £500,000-plus bid for Northwich Victoria.

A 'take it or leave it' offer in excess of £500,000 to buy High Legh-based owner Mike Connett out of the club and the land at the Victoria Stadium was made last week.

'What offer? There's been no offer. It's a joke. You are talking to idiots,' Mr Connett told the Chronicle. But we can confirm an offer has been made in writing by a Cheshire-based businessman.

It has been a dramatic week at Vics. Mr Connett banned two former chairmen - Rod Stitch and Dave Stone - telling them they could not attend games and instructing stewards to prevent Mr Stitch from entering the Wincham Park ground for the last match of the season on Saturday.

Both men paid at the turnstiles. Commercial manager Brian Edge quit on Thursday. He was also banned and paid at the gate.

Meanwhile the Chronicle understands two companies have begun legal proceedings against Mr Connett alleging they have not been paid for work at the Victoria Stadium.

The companies, both involved in building the new Victoria Stadium, are seeking to recover money allegedly owed. One claims two loans of £20,000 and £5,000 were made and not been repaid.

Mr Connett allegedly wanted to close the club website, which is run by volunteers and has now become unofficial. The owner-chairman is believed to be launching a new website.

Mr Connett, 53, who bought Vics for £250,000 after the club went into administration in September, refused to comment on any other issues, referring the Chronicle to his solicitors.

But he insisted he was still working to have the ground ready for May 31, a deadline set by the league. His statement followed a ground inspection by the Nationwide Conference and Cheshire Trading Standards, who are in charge of safety, on Monday.

It is Mr Connett's aim to create a marina and an artificial football pitch, restaurants and bars and has repeatedly reassured fans the stadium will meet Conference criteria - not a completed development - by the end of May.